Where to start???

The last few weeks have been quite full...much to my surprise. As Kendall is out of school until next week - I was terrified of having nothing to do with the kids until she starts again...and boy was I wrong!!! We have been very busy it seems...

First of all - Kendall had her first dentist appointment. Now I know what some of you are thinking...isn't she too young?? Well...apparently so... I had read that pediatricians (I never did ask my own...just the "they" that you read about) say that a good time for a first dentist appointment is between 2 and 3 years old (according to Kendall's new dentist - they normally don't see anyone before the age of 3 unless there is a problem...ah well...). So...she is two and a half...so we figured why not? Lets see...she sat in the chair to have x-rays...but wouldn't let them do it...she laid down on the table to let them clean her teeth...but wouldn't let them do it...so overall...pretty non-eventful time at the dentist. The only thing she let the dentist do is brush her teeth with her brand new Cinderella toothbrush. Good news though - no cavities!!! And...I did get some pictures!! :)

Then...one day I decided to get some sidewalk chalk out for the kids to play with. We had a ball making a pink and blue mess out of not only the back porch...but also our arms and legs and hands and clothes...oh yeah...and a yellow dog!!! haha

Note the blue on his front leg/shoulder...and the pink on his nose...haha

On Father's Day, Jeff played in the pillows from our bed with the kids.

Daddy just loves tickling his little girl! :)

There should be an event in pillow jumping in the Olympics don't you think??? Note Jeff talking to Carson...see...I'm not the only one that has to tell him "no" all the time...haha

And then we decided to give them a bath...I am still rolling with laughter!!! :)

And because I realized that there isn't hardly any pictures of Carson on this post...here is a picture of him from us at the park. And yes...that is sand in his mouth...did I ever mention how much I HATE sand now that I'm a mother??? It gets literally EVERYWHERE!!! Plus - it is impossible to wash out of a child's hair. As you are scrubbing their head...you can feel the little granules moving around under your fingers and they just won't come out!!! Why can't all playgrounds use that rubber mulch stuff??? Okay...enough venting...here's the little guy:

This weekend we are going to see "Go Diego Go" live on Saturday, and to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday - so I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share next week!

The wonderful word "No"

No. Nnnnoooo. Nooooo. NO. NO! No, Carson. No, Kendall. No, Rally. Carson, no, don't play in the dog water bowl. Carson, no, don't get the phone. Carson, no, don't play with Rally's toy. Kendall, no, you can't have a drink of Mommy's coffee. Kendall, no, don't play on the computer. Kendall, no, please don't push Carson over. Rally, no, don't pee on the floor. Rally, no, don't bite. Rally, no, don't tackle poor Carson.

No wonder I've been feeling somewhat depressed lately...all I ever do, it seems, is tell 3 of my four children "no" on a regular basis (Chance usually is able to escape the "no"s somehow). I am constantly pulling Carson away from things that were "Kendall-proofed" when she was an infant...but are apparently not Carson proofed. It is amazing how independent he is trying to be...and how quickly he is picking up on the walking bit. Not to mention the reach of the kid. I mean...we can move things to a point that we figure only an adult can reach...and next thing you know - he has it in his pudgy little hands. He is obsessed with getting either one of the cordless phones or the remote control...and when he finally achieves his goal...he promptly comes to show me and then giggles as he tries to run/waddle/crawl away from me knowing I'm going to take it from him...then launches into a crying fit when I do take it from him.


I am constantly trying not to pull my hair out over a 2 1/2 year old that has suddenly learned independence and wants to do everything "myseff" - "I do it!" From not wanting to hold my hand as we cross a street (not an option in my mind...but it is in hers...) to not wanting my help in taking off shoes and socks...to brushing her own teeth...to pouring water on her head in the bath. ANYTHING that she thinks she might be able to do...she must do it by herself. She is definitely in the tantrum stage as well...because we have at least a minor one at least once a day now...with a total meltdown, complete with ear piercing screams, at least once a week...and those always seem to happen in public - whether at a pool as we are trying to take her away or in a restaurant when it is time to go and we take away the food that has sat untouched in front of her for over 30 minutes.


Then there is Rally. Dear, sweet, misunderstood, Rally. The poor dog never catches a break. Either I'm telling him "no" that he can't eat the kids toys...or one of the kids is trying to take one of his toys away from him...or Chance is asserting his dominance over him...or he thinks he is just playing with one of his litter mates (Kendall and Carson) and does the play-biting...not realizing that their skin isn't as tough as his...and they launch into screams and tears (no real injuries, of course, but his little baby teeth are VERY sharp) which of course prompts me to tell him "No, Rally!"

I really do feel like I'm in a cloud of negativity all day long...so that by the time Jeff gets home from work...I'm exhausted...tired of disciplining four children...tired of trying to keep up with the endless battle of keeping the house somewhat picked up so that it isn't a disaster when Jeff walks in the door...and wondering when the "fun" part of having two kids and two dogs actually begins. Sure there are snippets of time during the day that the kids and I roll around and giggle and play and read and play with blocks and with "little people" and sing and dance...and there are snippets of time during the day when Rally and I play fetch and he rests as I pet his soft head. But overall...I feel like all I do all day long is say "No."

On a brighter note, however, my dear friend Kelly and two of her four children, Lily (she will be 4 in August) and Ty (turned two in March) came over for a play date on Wednesday morning. (Her other two - James and Isabella, 2 1/2 month old twins - were home with a babysitter). Here are a few pictures of the kid's fun.






Bet you didn't know that you could fit four children and a Labrador in a sandbox huh???

They're baaack!!!

We picked up the boys on Thursday - much to my chagrin. I have to admit...I was really enjoying life without dogs. I LOVE dogs. I LOVE how they are so excited to see you - even if you've only been gone for a few minutes. I LOVE the slobbery kisses and the warm body that cuddles up to you, begging for just a little bit of affection. I LOVE how they can read your mood - if you are sad or depressed - they KNOW it and they come to give you love. Dogs are wonderful. Dogs (in general) are better than some people I know. However...I was NOT looking forward to our house - a house that suddenly became a bit more peaceful - a house that was, for 3 weeks, devoid of hair flying around everywhere and lurking in corners - a house that could be left for a weekend without worrying about who was taking care of two of its occupants. I was NOT looking forward to the endless "No"s and the endless stress that having the dogs back was sure to bring. But I tell you what...when the staff at J&K brought our little furry children out from the back and they were jumping and whining and barking because they were so excited to see us - my heart softened and I was THRILLED to be getting them back!!! And so far...life hasn't been too bad. The way they interact with each other is night and day different from when we brought them for the in-house training. They are playing and kissing and playing "bite face" and running around together. I haven't felt one stitch of tension between the two of them since we've had them home. That in and of itself makes my life SO much easier. Yesterday - Rally pretty much hung around me all day long...he was only in his crate when he was eating or when I was in Kendall's bedroom with Kendall & Carson playing with puzzles. Otherwise - Rally was peaceful and relatively calm and there was no problems between him and Chance. The only two "accidents" occurred on our back porch...and personally...I'm okay with that for right now. Eventually (hopefully) he'll learn to go in the grass each and every time. Right now I'm just thrilled that for the last 36 hours he hasn't had an accident in the house. :) I am still praying that things continue to go well...and I know we will have a setback here and there...but overall I think the money we spent at J&K was WELL worth the price!!! Here are a few pictures of our little furry guys now that they are home.


Rally and one of his toys.


Playing follow the leader in the back yard.

Oh - and some of you are probably wondering how much bigger Rally is than when we dropped him off. HE IS HUGE!!! And man...you should see his paws. His paws are larger than Chance's. NO KIDDING!!! Although Chance might be bigger than him in stature right now...it won't be for much longer!


Seeing as I haven't posted in two weeks...here are some pictures of our trip to Hilton Head with our friends. It was a WONDERFUL time and we can't wait to go back there again.


Kendall in the "rocking boat". She LOVED IT. Jeff almost bought it for her...but it was over $500 by the time we would have paid for shipping...



Our happy guy in his stroller.


Kendall showing us her happy face (along with a partially eaten Cheerio).



Again...can anyone else see the similarities??? haha


Me and my love.


The family on the beach (ignore the big belly...no I'm not pregnant again...just still fat as I haven't even really attempted to lose any weight...and this swimming suit isn't exactly the most attractive one I have - but the other two I had brought were already dirty by that day)



Jeff shot this picture as the kids and I enjoyed sitting on the beach waiting for the surf to reach us.



Making sand castles. Even Carson was in on the action. And yes...don't adjust your computer screens - that is my tactile intolerant hubby playing in the sand as well...



Is it Carson? Or a cupie doll??? You decide...




The "gang" - from the right - Lance & Alicia P., Scott R., Griffen & Aidan P. and then us. This was taken about 5 minutes before we were back in the car and heading home.


Well - we are off to a family pool party one of my friends is hosting this morning at her community pool this morning. So - have a great day!!

Life as we know it...

Has officially changed!!!

Yesterday, before lunch and naptime, we moved Kendall into her "big grirl bed". (We converted her crib to a toddler bed.) We honestly didn't expect her to do very good - I've heard horror stories of toddlers constantly getting out of bed and trying to get out of their room since they discover that they actually can do it. Well...she did get up and out of her room one time - at naptime. Otherwise - she slept in it all night - and even called for us this morning when she woke up. She knows she can get out of bed herself...but didn't even try. YIPPEE!!! Now don't get me wrong...I know that its only been one night and we still have a long way to go before we can claim victory. However - I'm going to sing praises to God for every night that He convinces Kendall to stay in her bed. Even Carson has recognized that something is different about her room...when we go in her room and let her go - goes right to her bed and walks around it. I think I can hear his wheels turning: "hmm...if I climb out of my crib, then I'll get a cool bed like big sister..."

I'm tired...

So after all the adrenaline wore off from Kendall in the hospital and my broken toe...I got a stomach virus...then gave it to Carson...then gave it to my Mom when they came to visit the grandkids... Oh...and I went to Mom and Dad's house this past weekend...and Denise picked it up too (she was out of work every day so far this week due to the virus)...although she doesn't think she got it from us since several kids at her school are sick with it. Anyway...for the time being our household is well...but I am so exhausted and tired of feeling like our family has been under attack...between surgeries and illnesses and hospitalizations...I need a bit of a peace and quiet for a while...

Daddy reading Cinderella to Kendall. She has been obsessed with Cinderella lately...needless to say...we are trying to plan a trip to Disney soon so she can meet her in person.


My men cuddling together on the couch.

What a GREAT picture of the little man!!!

So...because of that and the myriad of other reasons...Jeff and I decided to go ahead and put Chance and Rally in the in-house training at J&K Canine Academy. And although I'm sure we'll miss them...I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to some peace and quiet around here (when the kids are sleeping that is...).

Rally (at 16 weeks old) and Daddy playing. (Can you imagine how big Rally will be in another 3 weeks...)

Also - Jeff has agreed that I need a weekend "off work"...so one of my oldest friends (we've know each other for over 20 years...uggghhh...it hurts just saying that...how can I have known her for over 20 years when I feel like I can't be a day over 25 myself and I know I met her when I was 11 or 12??? NOT possible it's been that long...), Bobbie, and I are meeting in Orlando next weekend (the 16th) for some much needed girl time. She is flying down from St. Louis on Friday and I am driving down and picking her up...then we are going to just relax...go to one of the parks...hang by the pool...sleep...eat...sleep some more...all without hearing the constant "Mommy Mommy Mommy" in the background. Hallelujah!!!

My poor baby...

To say the least...our weekend was NOT a fun one. Friday morning, Kendall woke up with a small fever (100.9 degrees). However...she didn't have any other symptoms at all...so I gave her some Tylenol and sent her off to school (Mother's guilt kicking in...). She acted just fine when I picked her up from school...and took her nap great. BUT...when she got up from her nap...her temperature was 103.2. But...again no symptoms. We dosed her up with some more Tylenol and some Motrin and she was fine. Saturday morning she woke up with 102.4 and started to sound raspy and had a bit of a cough. So...we called the doctor and got her in (assuming that it was an ear infection). At the time...the doctor (who wasn't our normal pediatrician...just one of the doctors in the office) said that it was just a virus and had to run its course. Well...by Saturday evening she was coughing a lot more...and was very slightly croupy in her cough. So we put her humidifier in her room...Jeff was a trooper and was in and out of her room a lot that night...because she kept waking herself up coughing. The next day she continued to get even "croupier"...and by the time I posted my blog that day...sounded really rough. Jeff and I were trying to decide when to take her to the doctor - on Monday when she could see her regular pediatrician...or that day at the Peds After Hours clinic (which we have had bad experiences with before). Well...once I actually posted my blog...I went into her room to check on her as she was napping...and I noticed that her whole body was moving and working very hard each breath she took. So...that solved it for me...and I called the clinic at 3pm and we were told to bring her in right away. By 3:45 we were in an examination room with her first of 3 breathing treatments being administered. (Jeff had to run back home after we got there...because on the way she threw up all over herself and the car seat...). Well...after a steroid shot and the 3 breathing treatments...she was still struggling to breathe. So they decided that she needed to be admitted to the hospital for further treatments and monitoring. So at about 6:30pm an ambulance came and whisked Kendall and Mommy away (she was sitting on my lap for the ride) to the hospital and she was admitted to Shands Hospital at UF at about 6:45/7pm.

Here she is getting a "direct" dose of a cool mist humidifier. She also has an IV attached (it is protected by the brown tape and splint so that she couldn't take it off) to give her fluids since she hadn't been eating or drinking hardly anything for a few days. The yellow bear - named "Chelly" by Kendall - is what the paramedics gave her on the ambulance ride.

One of several breathing treatments of rescimic epinephrine (sp?) - which is supposed to last 4 hours between each treatment...but which only lasted 45 minutes to an hour for her.

Up in the Pediatric ICU - they have her hooked up to monitors, and of course, her IV. She is also "wearing" a mask which was giving her HeliOx (a helium and oxygen mixture). Unfortunately - she didn't wear the mask well - because every time she rolled over or half-way woke up - she was pushing at the mask...so Mommy was holding the mask up to her face from 2am when we got to the ICU until 7am...when they determined that since the mask didn't have a good seal - it really wasn't giving her any benefit.

My little baby sleeping somewhat soundly...

Kendall sitting on Daddy's lap on Monday morning - still miserable but feeling tons better!

Kendall sitting on Mommy's lap on Tuesday morning. They had moved her out of ICU and onto a regular floor at about 10:30pm. Here...we are just waiting for them to tell us that we could go home.

So around 11:15am on Tuesday morning - final paperwork signed - Jeff, Kendall and myself were walking out of the hospital and going home. What an exhausting few days... Yesterday we went to see her regular doctor for her follow-up and he said that from now on - the minute she sounds croupy - we need to get her either oral or injection steroids to try to head off her going into the hospital again. And Carson (who had started to sound croupy himself) received a steroid shot to try to keep any problems for him at bay.

Oh - and you probably think all of that is enough right?? Apparently not...because on Tuesday morning as I was letting Rally inside from going potty...I managed to kick the door with my little toe...and broke it! I haven't seen a doctor - because besides taping it...there is really nothing they can do. So...Jeff "taped" it with some band aids Tuesday night...but before he did - I took a picture to show you how beautiful a bruise a broken toe makes:

Yesterday Kendall was feeling pretty much back to her normal self. In fact...she was fun enough that I HAVE to tell this story in this blog (although it would be a good blog in and of itself...). We were outside playing in the yard (me, the kids and the dogs). Kendall had gotten some flowers from her Memo (Jeff's mom) when she was in the hospital. The flowers were the kind where you actually want to plant them in a pot and everything. Anyway - the flowers were on the porch - and Carson and I were out in the yard - with Kendall floating between us...carrying a new flower in her hand each time that she had plucked from her pot. I told her that the flowers would die if she kept plucking them...but oh well...now all that stands is some pitiful looking green stems with no flowers attached... Anyway - during all this...at one point I'm tickling and kissing Carson, not watching Kendall and I hear her say "Poo poo". When I look up...Kendall is ankle deep in pooh...in sandals...with an armful of white flowers in her arms. So I go inside, put Carson in his play-pen, grab the wipes and have Kendall sit on a pooh-free zone, then take off her sandals and clean off her feet and ankles with the wipes. Then I have her stand up and tell her to walk back in the house...when I notice that her bottom is covered in pooh too... She had managed to not only sit in pooh...but stomp in it too... all while holding her pretty white flowers in her arms. My only regret...is that I didn't think to grab my camera to take a picture... it was so funny...such a contrast - flowers and smiles and beautiful girl from the waist up...pooh and stink from the waist down!!!

You should see the OTHER guy!!!

So...learning how to walk does come with its challenges and bumps and bruises...and bright red lines across the center of one's nose...

And...obviously...I shouldn't be too relaxed when it comes to the state of the "relationship" with the boys (Chance & Rally)...

What looks like a vampire bite on Rally's jaw line, is actually where Chance decided to bite him when, heaven forbid, Rally was too close to Carson's high-chair at lunch time. What you don't see are another two bite marks right on the edge of the ear entrance. Luckily - no stitches were needed...and all we are doing (after spending $108 at the vet for this) is giving Rally some antibiotics. However...we are really considering sending the boys (Chance specifically...although it would benefit Rally as well) to a "spa"...intense in-house training at J&K Canine Academy (http://www.pepedogs.com/) for 3 weeks. It is expensive...but it might just help get Chance out of his psycho dog stuff...and it would give both boys some good discipline (and apparently get Rally out of the "puppy mouthing" that is starting to aggravate my human babies...especially when Rally practices it on Carson's pudgy little feet or Kendall's arm...) If we decide to send them both - we have to wait until after May 7 though, because that is when Rally will be done with all his puppy shots (and be 16 weeks old). Basically - we are trying to decide one of three things: 1) both boys go to the in-house training, 2) Chance goes to in-house training and Rally gets basic obedience in a group setting, 3) both boys get basic obedience in a group setting. According to our behaviorist - she recommends the first option...but that is very expensive...and we don't know if we (especially Kendall) can handle 3 weeks away from the boys... But - as we have until the first week of May to really make a decision...I'll keep you posted...



We discovered that Kendall is one of only 1% of the population to have a particular characteristic. She is sick again (high fever - 100.3 degrees even with Tylenol and Motrin in her; raspy, labored breathing, coughing...out and out miserable most of the time) and we brought her to the doctor yesterday morning (but of course..."its a virus...let it take its course"). Anyway - we saw a different doctor than her normal one and he said she has a bifid uvula...you know that little thing that hangs down in the back of your mouth...normally it is one single almost bell shaped thing...but hers looks more like a "w"...so after more attempts than I care to admit...here is a picture:

Cool huh??? The doctor says it is genetic...and that someone down the line in one of our families probably had the same thing (although neither Jeff or I have it)... We always knew Kendall was a unique little girl - but now we have concrete proof!!! :)



And one of my favorite pictures of recent memory:


Aren't I lucky???

Has it really been that long???

I don't think I actually realized how long it had been since I last posted a blog...until I noticed my last one...about when Jeff was off work due to that dreaded illness. And although it seems like just yesterday that he had it...eons have passed and a lot has gone on in the Hogue family.
Most recently - we have brought home an addition to our family. Rally is a 13 week old yellow labrador retriever. Luckily...he isn't your typical puppy...in that he is very gentle and laid back and isn't at all bouncing off the walls like one would expect a puppy to do. We are still working with crate training and housebreaking him...which we know will be a long process. But unfortunately - the worst thing we are having to deal with...is Chance, our 7 1/2 year old german shepard chow mix, is having some aggressive issues in regards to the puppy. He does NOT like the idea of another animal coming into HIS home and loving on HIS parents and loving and playing with HIS kids. So...we are working with Kim at J&K Canine (go to their website - pepedogs.com - this organization is GREAT!!! We have worked with Pepe himself in the past and he is WONDERFUL!!!). After a week and a half...the boys are getting along better...still not wonderfull...but I'm not terrified that Chance is going to eat Rally anymore. However...until I feel 100% comfortable that Chance isn't going to hurt Rally - this means that on top of chasing after my two human children...I have to keep the dogs pretty much separated at all times if I'm not able to moderate their activities. FUN FUN!!!

Kendall and Carson are doing great!!!

Kendall continues to amaze us with how smart she is. She can sing the entire ABC song (some of the letters get "blended"...but otherwise there is no doubt what she is singing)...and she loves to sing all the time. We are constantly singing everything from "Jesus Loves Me" to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Start" to "You are my Sunshine". And I do me WE are singing...because she sings right along with us. She rides her tricycle like a pro...she loves to play pretend. We will be sitting out on the back yard playing with the dogs and she sees the clouds in the sky and starts standing on her tiptoes so that she can "get" them. One day, Jeff and I were both with her, and I said that I was hungry and could she get me a cloud to eat. So...she "pulled" one down and handed it to me and I pretended to eat it. She smiled at me...then got one for herself and for Jeff and for Carson and for Chance and for Rally...it is so fun watching her imagination at work.

Carson just had his 9 month doctor visit last week...30" long and 23lbs 4oz...which although seems HUGE...is actually smaller than Kendall was at 9 months (she was 30.5" long and 23lbs 14oz). Monday he took his first steps...so exciting!!! and so scary!!! He is still more comfortable cruising around furniture and on the walls...but with encouragement he will take a step or two without holding onto anything now. It is only a matter of time before I'm chasing him around the house!!! And when that happens...boy am I in trouble...because he is already into EVERYTHING he can get into...I am scared to think what it will be when he is actually walking on his own. He is such a happy little guy...but boy howdy...when he gets mad...watch out!!! That red hair that seems to still be sticking around sure gets him fired up!!! We have also found the perfect nickname for him - BamBam - because he is CONSTANTLY banging things with his hands...so it fits! Oh...and I almost forgot - he clapped his little pudgy hands for the first time on Saturday at the spring football game (Orange and Blue Game for the Florida Gators)...he didn't do it great...but he did clap them nonetheless.

I promise I will try to be better about keeping the blog updated...afterall...as one of my friends put it "after two kids under 3, an older dog and a puppy, you will have more than enough to write a novel that will crack us all up."

You call THAT a blister???

**WARNING** Some of the pictures on this blog are NOT pretty...

Jeff is taking a vacation from work...but not willingly... He went to see the doctor on Tuesday afternoon because he is having such bad problems with the hand-foot-and-mouth disease (that according to several websites - only children get and if adults do get, it is usually very mild). The doctor (actually nurse practioner) said that she had never seen hand-foot-and-mouth disease in an adult before...boy what a case it is that she got to see...

Here is a picture we found on the internet of what they say your blisters will look like (granted - it is a picture of a child's hand...but I really couldn't find an adults hand when I looked):

Now...here is Jeff's right hand (his left hand doesn't look as bad, although it does have some stuff on it...):

The bad part is that his hand and fingers are so swollen by the blisters that he can't even open his own medicine bottles...his feet are so swollen and tender that he has a hard time walking...his poor throat is so sore that he can't hardly eat...even drinking water stings!!! Even if he was able to go to work...I wonder if he would have since he is so miserable... Oh...and by the way...his shoulder is doing okay (with all of this it is easy to forget he just had surgery last week...)

Meanwhile - most of Kendall's blisters are gone on her hands and feet and her mouth is almost completely healed. And so far neither Carson or I appear to have the virus - I sure hope it stays that way!!!

Well...to end things on a positive note - here are a few pictures of my angels!